An Introduction to Protein

Here is a simple primer on protein. This information can be used to better understand nutrition science and support your discussions with parents.

Protein is one of the three macronutrients, a group that also includes fats and carbohydrates. Proteins are the major structural and functional components of all cells in the body, and act to facilitate biochemical reactions.

Proteins play a crucial role in a healthy, balanced diet. For example, without sufficient protein nutrition we would not be able to form enzymes, and the body's ability to repair and generate cells would be affected.

Protein is an essential macronutrient that acts to build, maintain, regulate, and repair body tissues. More specifically, essential functions of protein in the body include:

serving as enzymes to catalyze reactions in processes such as metabolism, DNA replication, and digestion [Shils 2006]

serving as certain hormones and antibodies

regulating essential body processes including distribution of water in the body, nutrient transport, and muscle contractions

helping maintain the acid-base balance

providing a source of energy - about 4 calories per gram

helping keep skin, hair, and nails healthy.

The Dietary Reference Intake guidelines recommend that protein should make up 5% to 20% of the calories consumed each day by children 1-3 years old, and 10-30% of total energy intake for 4-18 year olds.

Protein is a chemical compound that contains the same atoms as carbohydrate and fat - carbon (C), hydrogen (H) and oxygen (O) - but protein also contains nitrogen (N) atoms. These C, H, O and N atoms are arranged into amino acids, which are linked into chains to form proteins. The sizes and structures of proteins vary widely in complexity, which enables proteins to play a variety of functions in the cell. For example, the structure of the amino acid lysine is shown below.

Lysine

H2N – (CH2) – COOH
|
NH2

Amino acids

Amino acids are identified as either essential or nonessential. Our bodies can make nonessential amino acids, but not the essential amino acids. These 8 essential amino acids must be supplied by our diets.

Essential

Essential in certain cases

Nonessential

Unclassified

Isoleucine

Leucine

Lysine

Methionine

Phenylalanine

Threonine

Tryptophan

Valine

Histidine

Tyrosine

Arginine

Cysteine

Glutamine

Glycine

Proline

Serine

Asparagine

Alanine

Aspartate

Glutamate

Selenocysteine

Pyrrolysine

Amino acid requirements actually vary by the age and health of the individual; in children, the ability to synthesize several of the nonessential amino acids is not fully developed.

Amino acids are linked together to form proteins. They connect by means of a condensation reaction. When a molecule of water is split out from 2 amino acids, a bond forms to create a dipeptide. Most proteins are polypeptides, 100 to 300 amino acids in length.

Role of protein in food

The role of protein in food is not to provide body proteins directly, but to supply the amino acids from which the body can make its own proteins. To make body protein, a cell must have all of the needed amino acids available simultaneously. Dietary protein must supply the essential amino acids and enough nitrogen for the synthesis of others.

Complete and incomplete proteins

Proteins can also be classified as complete or incomplete. A complete protein is one that contains all the essential amino acids; an incomplete protein lacks one or more essential amino acids.

Proteins

Descriptions

Food sources

Complete Proteins

Proteins that contain all the essential amino acids

Animal products such as meat, eggs and milk and milk products

Incomplete Proteins

Proteins that usually lack one ormolu essential amino acids

Plant foods such as grains, legumes and nuts/seeds

Incomplete protein sources can be combined to create complete proteins. For children following a vegetarian diet, it is important to eat a variety of plant foods in order to get enough protein. For example, combining a grain and a legume (rice and beans), a grain and a nut/seed (whole wheat bun with sesame seeds) or a legume and a nut/seed (humus, which is chickpeas and sesame paste) create nutritious complete protein combinations that provide good amino acid balance when mixed in proper quantities. If the vegetarian diet permits eggs, milk or cheese, which are complete proteins, the inclusion of such foods with grains or legumes will yield extra amino acid synergies.

Conclusion

A sound understanding of proteins, including their critical role in the body and the ways in which dietary protein supports growth, development and maintenance of body tissues, can help to put the value of this macronutrient into perspective.

A healthy diet includes a balance of nutritious sources of proteins. A diet that is low or deficient in this critical nutrient is truly not "balanced", and is in need of correction to best support overall health.

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